Virtual Hallway improves access to specialists, decreases waiting lists

“I did my training and started my career in Ontario, where I had consistent access to consult with specialists,” said Amber Johnston, a nurse practitioner in Charlottetown. “And while I had access here on PEI for referrals, what I was missing was a less formal way of just getting a bit of guidance on a particular patient. And then I learned about Virtual Hallway.”

Virtual Hallway is an online scheduling platform that allows primary care providers (physicians and nurse practitioners) to connect with specialists in PEI and Nova Scotia to receive patient-specific advice through an expedited phone consultation. The quick and efficient peer-to-peer consult allows specialist input on a patient’s condition and care plan and helps determine the need for an in-person referral.

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Dr. Bergin

“Honestly,” added Johnston, “it’s a game-changer.”

Dr. Pat Bergin agrees. He’s an internal medicine specialist in Charlottetown.

“Virtual Hallway is just a really useful tool. This gives primary care providers timely and efficient access to specialists like myself, and it is easy. I can spend 10 to 20 minutes on the phone consulting with a nurse practitioner or family doctor, and we can often avoid the months of waiting it might take for one of their patients to get an appointment with me.”

– Dr. Pat Bergin

In the first 10 months of Virtual Hallway’s operation, nearly 87 percent of virtual consultations avoided the need for an in-person referral. That works out to more than 500 specialist referrals avoided in the first year alone, keeping Island patients off waiting lists.

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Amber Johnston, Nurse Practitioner

“When I first signed up for Virtual Hallway, I was excited to see it already had more than 30 different specialties available for consultation. I see now it’s up to 42 specialties. It’s just nice to know the expertise I need is always going to be there.”

– Amber Johnston, Nurse Practitioner

Virtual Hallway now has more than 200 registered users on PEI, including 160 primary care providers and 45 specialists. Nova Scotia adds an extra 95 registered specialists, broadening the pool of expertise even further.

Dr. Bergin typically books between four and six consultations a week through Virtual Hallway.

“I like to schedule them through my lunch, so it doesn’t interfere with my office time,” he said. “It also happens to be when most primary care providers are available, so it works out great. The platform allows them to upload pertinent test results and documents, so I can take some time before we meet to get acquainted with the case. We can usually get through a consultation in 15 minutes on the phone, and then I make some notes to share back.”

“Virtual Hallway saves all of my former consultations, so I can go back and review the notes provided by the specialist,” said Johnston. “I have learned so much from these specialists. Sometimes, it’s just helpful guidance and assurance I’m on the right track.”

Both Johnston and Dr. Bergin recommend Virtual Hallway to their colleagues, and both agree that the virtual platform’s name is very appropriate.

“It really does sometimes feel like bumping into a colleague in the hallway,” said Johnston. “It’s a level of consultation that’s still very important but doesn’t require sending my patient to a specialist for a full referral. That’s what Virtual Hallway provides.”

Media Contact:
Dave Atkinson
Senior Communications Officer
datkinson@ihis.org